The 2023-24 Colorado All-State Orchestra is here, and this year two Junction cellists have made it.

Nicholas Berry is a senior cellist from Grand Junction High School who was accepted into the All-State orchestra for the first time his sophomore year. Berry has been a cellist every year of high school and was recommended to audition by orchestra instructor Nicole Roos.

“I’ve been playing cello my whole life, since when I was five and taking private lessons with my dad,” said Berry

Emily Larsen is a junior cellist at GJHS and the other Junction student to make it to All-State. Larsen has been playing cello since middle school and made it to All-State for the first time this year.

“I’m really passionate about music and I love cello, and All-State was a really good opportunity for me to push myself,” said Larsen.

Since 1952, the All-State Orchestra has taken the top 200 kids in the state to the Fort Collins University Center for the Arts. For three days there is an intense rehearsal so each student can perform their best. Then judges decide the best from each section and organize a final performance with all of the students at the end for all of the families. 

“You get the music six months early and you start practicing it, then you get there and they have judges that’ll give you a couple random spots in the music,” said Berry.

The All-State Orchestra performance will be on Feb. 1-3 at the amphitheater at the Fort Collins University Center for the Arts. It will be open to families and friends of all competitors. This event will be streamed on YouTube for all those who wish to watch it at home.